The playoffs are off to a rollicking start

Bad omen of the day: I am stuck in Charlotte, N.C., of all places, where Elton John’s “Rocket Man” (“I think it’s going to be a long, long time…”) is playing above. In other words, I’m not making it to the morning skate.

If that’s not torture enough, at airline terminals, I have an uncommon knack for always sitting next to the annoying guy with the Bluetooth headset who insists on letting the free world hear his entire conference call (something about scheduling *another* conference call. It’s obviously very important, seeing how he’s pacing back and forth and now yelling).

Anyway, fear not, dear readers: I will make it for the drop of the puck even if it means crawling there. And at least now I have time to fill out my ballots for various end-of-the-year awards, all of which are past due.

In the meantime, here’s “my story from today’s paper”:http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070412/SPORTS01/704120362/1034/SPORTS about how the myriad hiccups the Rangers endured this year probably made them a better team in the process.

hi everyone,
i am soooo nervous …
btw, there was guy writing comments, who wanted rangers to get peter forsberg by all means, forgot his name. now its too late, but i am with you man. a forsberg like yesterday (8!!! hits, 5 takeaways …) in a “blueshirt” and i would be very confident for the whole playoffs. nonetheless the management made some good moves in the last couple of months (avery, mara, re-signing pock …)
let’s go rangers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Second, we don’t need Forsberg. You know that he would get injured in a Blueshirt the moment he hit the ice. Meanwhile, everyone talking about the Red Wings and Bertuzzi, the guy isn’t even playing tonight cuz of a concussion. I am happy with the team we have fielded. 3 lines that can score, one bump and grind line that can be a nuisance to the other team’s scoring line, and Henrik! We will be fine.

Third, who caught the Sens Pens last night? Everyone notice how the Sens were slamming everything within 2 feet of the puck. THAT is playoff hockey. And, they were forechecking like crazy forcing the Pens to stand around their own net with their feet cemented to the ice. That is what we need to do tonight to the Atlanta.

– Colton Orr was amused when I asked him about the queries I’ve received from a couple of you about a supposed altercation between him and Sean Avery during a recent practice.
“Between me and Sean?” he said, laughing. “We’re roommates!”
When I asked if that meant that he was kept up all night while Avery yaps at him, Orr insisted that his roomie shuts it down at the appropriate time so they both can get their rest.

– Colton Orr was amused when I asked him about the queries I’ve received from a couple of you about a supposed altercation between him and Sean Avery during a recent practice.
“Between me and Sean?” he said, laughing. “We’re roommates!”
When I asked if that meant that he was kept up all night while Avery yaps at him, Orr insisted that his roomie shuts it down at the appropriate time so they both can get their rest.

Ditto on the “Screw Forsberg” tip…. So glad to see NYR stepping away from damaged goods these days…. The idea of bringing Forsberg on board made me shudder. Broken ankle first night, guaranteed.

—-

YING YANG, I think Letohnen has the mohawk just to get himself excited…don’t forget, ATL wears blue too. Can’t wait to see that dipshit get pulled one of these games and have to have him sitting on the bench with that retarded hair-do….g@yl0rd.
Also, I doubt Avery/Orr scrapped….

jane–pyatt being released from his ATO has nothing to do with his status with the rangers. it just means he’s going home for the summer instead of sticking around hartford. pyatt already signed with the rangers and is all set to turn pro in the fall.

Stop this forsberg sillinesssss…..We did good leave it alone. Stop looking back and look foward, I cant wait for the game tonight. Avery and colton getting wrapped up hahaha Nolans Finest Fish Sticks made up a good one there. Lets Go Rangers 07 !!!

I’m going to be screwed. I know I’m going to get shafted with the Buffalo game tonite on MSG and I’ll have to watch the Fishsticks get smacked and listen to the Rangers on Gameradio. This BLOWS!!! What is even more funny is Islander fans won’t get their game on FSNY because the Devils will be on.

ESPN ran a story, about mid-way through the season, involving Marian Hossa’s encounter with a local waiter. The waiter casually mentioned he had never heard an accent quite like Hossa’s before, to which Marian replied, “I’m from Slovakia.”

The waiter says, “Slovakia, huh?” and asks, “What brings you to Atlanta?”

Marian replies, “I play for the Thrashers.”

“What are the Thrashers?”

“Atlanta’s hoecky team……”

“What’s hockey?”

So, to anyone who thought your last line was just a joke – it’s not. :)

Anyone know what the deal is with NHL Center Ice?
I can’t seem to find the game in the guide. [I have Comcast.]

The inDemand site shows the Rangers game on NH02.

I know that in the past, if it said NHL02 on the “main” NHL Center Ice channel, it would be on the second NHL Center Ice channel (in the lineup). But . . . . I don’t see it in the guide . . . . for 6pm (I’m Central Time).

an early goal would absolutely devastate the Thrashers crowd. Also, Im not sure what the crowd is gonna be like. Could be quite few Rangers fans considering you could get tickets to the games last night.

PW, I think we had this convo before. I’m at SUNY Cortland and the same thing happens to me. But only when the Rangers are on at 7:30 and Buffalo is on at 7. I don’t think it should be a problem today since we are on at 7 as well. Keeping my fingers crossed though.

Basically, MSG made a deal with the NHL & Sabres: Upstate markets that usually get blacked out in favor of Sabres games (Albany, Plattsburgh, Utica, Watertown, Syracuse, Binghamton, etc.) will get all Rangers MSG playoff games on MSG, with the Sabres being moved over to FSNY. When the Rangers are on NBC, the Sabres will be on MSG. Btw, only Albany & Utica will get Saturday’s Rangers game on NBC, the rest of Upstate will see the Senators crush the Pens.